Scanner and method for scanning an image or images

Abstract

A scanner includes a scan bar, a first scan-bar homing reference, a second scan-bar homing reference and an image placement area. The scan bar is movable along a subscan axis. The second scan-bar homing reference is spaced apart along the subscan axis from the first scan-bar homing reference. The image placement area is located between the first and second scan-bar homing references. A broad method uses the scanner. One step includes performing a prescan or an image scan of an image by moving the scan bar along the subscan axis from the first scan-bar homing reference in relation to the image. Another step includes performing a prescan or an image scan of the image or of an additional image by moving the scan bar along the subscan axis from the second scan-bar homing reference in relation to the image or the additional image.

1 . A scanner comprising: 
 a) a scan bar movable along a subscan axis;    b) a first scan-bar homing reference;    c) a second scan-bar homing reference spaced apart along the subscan axis from the first scan-bar homing reference; and    d) an image placement area disposed between the first and second scan-bar homing references.    
   
   
       2 . The scanner of  claim 1  wherein the first scan-bar homing reference is a first scan-bar homing and calibration reference and/or the second scan-bar homing reference is a second scan-bar homing and calibration reference.  
   
   
       3 . The scanner of  claim 2  wherein the each of the calibration references is colored.  
   
   
       4 . The scanner of  claim 3  wherein the color is selected from a group consisting of white, black, gray and a combination of the foregoing colors.  
   
   
       5 . The scanner of  claim 1  wherein the first scan-bar homing reference and the second scan-bar homing reference are each further comprised of a geometric shape.  
   
   
       6 . The scanner of  claim 5  wherein the first scan-bar homing reference and the second scan-bar homing reference are different from one another.  
   
   
       7 . The scanner of  claim 5  wherein each of first and second scan-bar homing references are positioned on the scanner by use one of a group consisting of molding, painting, and labeling.  
   
   
       8 . The scanner of  claim 1  wherein the first scan-bar homing reference and the second scan-bar homing reference are each further comprised of a position switch.  
   
   
       9 . The scanner of  claim 8  wherein the position switch comprises an optical break sensor.  
   
   
       10 . A method of scanning an image or images comprising: 
 a) obtaining a scanner including a subscan axis, including a scan bar having a plurality of sensor elements, including a first scan-bar homing reference and including a second scan-bar homing reference spaced apart along the subscan axis from the first scan-bar homing reference;    b) performing a prescan or an image scan of an image by moving the scan bar along the subscan axis from the first scan-bar homing reference in relation to the image; and    c) performing a prescan or an image scan of the image or of an additional image by moving the scan bar along the subscan axis from the second scan-bar homing reference in relation to the image or the additional image.    
   
   
       11 . A method for scanning an image comprising the steps of: 
 a) obtaining a scanner including a subscan axis, including a scan bar having a plurality of sensor elements, including a first scan-bar homing reference and including a second scan-bar homing reference spaced apart along the subscan axis from the first scan-bar homing reference;    b) performing a plurality of prescans of the image by alternately moving the scan bar in relation to the image along the subscan axis from the first scan-bar homing reference to the second scan-bar homing reference for each odd numbered prescan of the plurality of prescans and from the second scan-bar homing reference to the first scan-bar homing reference for each even numbered prescan of the plurality of prescans; and    c) after step b), image scanning the image by moving the scan bar in relation to the image along the subscan axis.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  also including the step of establishing a position reference for the scan bar each time before the scan bar is moved from each of the first and second scan-bar homing references.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the first scan-bar homing reference is a first scan-bar homing and sensor-element calibration reference, and also including, before step b); the step of calibrating the plurality of sensor elements from a scan of the first scan-bar homing reference by the scan bar.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of calibrating comprises using a calibration reference selected from a group consisting of a white calibration reference, a black calibration reference, a gray calibration reference and a calibration reference that is a combination of the foregoing calibration references.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  also including after step c), the step of moving the scan bar along the subscan axis to the closer of the first and second scan-bar homing references.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the scanner is a component of a printing system.  
   
   
       17 . A method for scanning an image comprising the steps of: 
 a) obtaining a scanner including a subscan axis, including a scan bar having a plurality of sensor elements, including a first scan-bar homing reference and including a second scan-bar homing reference spaced apart along the subscan axis from the first scan-bar homing reference;    b) disposing the scan bar about the first scan-bar homing reference;    c) after step b), performing a first prescan of the image by moving the scan bar from the first scan-bar homing reference to the second scan-bar homing reference in relation to the image along the subscan axis; and    d) after step c), performing a second prescan of the image by moving the scan bar from the second scan-bar homing reference to the first scan-bar homing reference in relation to the image along the subscan axis.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  also including the step of establishing a position reference for the scan bar each time before the scan bar is moved from each of the first and second scan-bar homing references.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the first scan-bar homing reference is a first scan-bar homing and sensor-element-calibration reference, and also including, between steps b) and c), the step of calibrating the plurality of sensor elements from a scan of the first scan-bar homing reference by the scan bar.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the step of calibrating comprises using a calibration reference selected from a group consisting of a white calibration reference, a black calibration reference, a gray calibration reference and a calibration reference that is a combination of the foregoing calibration references.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the scanner is a component of a printing system.  
   
   
       22 . A method for scanning images comprising the steps of: 
 a) obtaining a scanner including a subscan axis, including a scan bar having a plurality of sensor elements, including a first scan-bar homing reference and including a second scan-bar homing reference spaced apart along the subscan axis from the first scan-bar homing reference;    b) disposing the scan bar about the first scan-bar homing reference;    c) prescanning a first image by moving the scan bar from the first scan-bar homing reference to the second scan-bar homing reference in relation to the image along the subscan axis;    d) after step c), image scanning the first image by moving the scan bar from the second scan-bar homing reference toward the first scan-bar homing reference in relation to the image along the subscan axis;    e) after step d), moving the scan bar to the second scan-bar homing reference, wherein the second scan-bar homing reference is the closer of the first and second scan-bar homing references to the scan bar at the completion of step d);    f) after step e), prescanning a second image, which is different from the first image, by moving the scan bar from the second scan-bar homing reference to the first scan-bar homing reference in relation to the image along the subscan axis; and    g) after step f), image scanning the second image by moving the scan bar from the first scan-bar homing reference toward the second scan-bar homing reference in relation to the image along the subscan axis.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  also including the step of establishing a position reference for the scan bar each time before the scan bar is moved from each of the first and second scan-bar homing references.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the first scan-bar homing reference is a first scan-bar homing and sensor-element-calibration reference, and also including, between steps b) and c), the step of calibrating the plurality of sensor elements from a scan of the first scan-bar homing reference by the scan bar.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the second scan-bar homing reference is a second scan-bar homing and sensor-element-calibration reference, and also including, between steps e) and f), the step of calibrating the plurality of sensor elements from a scan of the second scan-bar homing reference by the scan bar.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the steps of calibrating from a scan the first and second scan-bar homing references further comprises using a calibration reference selected from a group consisting of a white calibration reference, a black calibration reference, a gray calibration reference and a calibration reference that is a combination of the foregoing calibration references.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the scanner is a component of a printing system.  
   
   
       28 . A method for scanning images comprising the steps of: 
 a) obtaining a scanner including a subscan axis, including a scan bar having a plurality of sensor elements, including a first scan-bar homing reference and including a second scan-bar homing reference spaced apart along the subscan axis from the first scan-bar homing reference;    b) establishing a position reference for the scan bar including disposing the scan bar about the first scan-bar homing reference;    c) after step b), image scanning the first image by moving the scan bar from the first scan-bar homing reference toward the second scan-bar homing reference in relation to the image along the subscan axis;    d) after step c), establishing an updated position reference for the scan bar including disposing the scan bar about the second scan-bar homing reference; and    e) after step d), image scanning a second image, which is different from the first image, by moving the scan bar from the second scan-bar homing reference toward the first scan-bar homing reference in relation to the image along the subscan axis.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the first scan-bar homing reference is a first scan-bar homing and sensor-element-calibration reference and/or the second scan-bar homing reference is a second scan-bar homing and sensor-element-calibration reference, and also including, between steps b) and c), the step of calibrating the plurality of sensor elements from a scan of the first scan-bar homing reference by the scan bar and/or, between steps d) and e), the step of calibrating the plurality of sensor elements from a scan of the second scan-bar homing reference by the scan bar.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the steps of calibrating from a scan the first and second scan-bar homing references further comprises using a calibration reference selected from a group consisting of a white calibration reference, a black calibration reference, a gray calibration reference and a calibration reference that is a combination of the foregoing calibration references.  
   
   
       31 . A method for scanning and printing an image comprising the steps of: 
 a) obtaining a scanner including a subscan axis, including a scan bar having a plurality of sensor elements, including a first scan-bar homing reference and including a second scan-bar homing reference spaced apart along the subscan axis from the first scan-bar homing reference;    b) establishing a position reference for the scan bar including disposing the scan bar about the first scan-bar homing reference;    c) after step b), performing a first image scan of the image by moving the scan bar from the first scan-bar homing reference toward the second scan-bar homing reference in relation to the image along the subscan axis;    d) after step c), printing a copy of the first image scan of the image;    e) after step d), establishing an updated position reference for the scan bar including disposing the scan bar about the second scan-bar homing reference;    f) after step e), performing a second image scan of the image by moving the scan bar from the second scan-bar homing reference toward the first scan-bar homing reference in relation to the image along the subscan axis; and    g) after step f), printing a copy of the second image scan of the image.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the first scan-bar homing reference is a first scan-bar homing and sensor-element-calibration reference, and also including, between steps b) and c), the step of calibrating the plurality of sensor elements from a scan of the first scan-bar homing reference by the scan bar.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the step of calibrating from a scan the first can-bar homing reference further comprises using a calibration reference selected from a group consisting of a white calibration reference, a black calibration reference, a gray calibration reference and a calibration reference that is a combination of the foregoing calibration references.